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The Stockbridge round a bout just south of Chichester became a crime scene yesterday at 7.00 am . A cyclist was found by police by the side of the road . Sadly he died from his injuries . The round a bout and part of the A 27 was closed all day . The resultant traffic diversions caused mayhem .

Certainly a tragedy for the cyclist's friends and family, but the impact upon the extended family of the driver is also significant. The driver was a self employed delivery driver. Van seized, no money coming in, rent to pay, family to support, pending loss of licence, potential loss of liberty, etc, etc... It was in court recently and referred to Crown court.

The cyclist was racing on the road, was 'old', might not have been focussed on peripheral situation....

It could happen to anyone of us road users and have life changing implications.... Scary stuff.

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Last weekend was a nightmare. Seemingly the world and his wife had decided to clad themselves in Lycra and take to the roads.

Now there's good and bad in all but what is it about groups, ie 2 or more, of cyclists who seem to think it is some sort of right to make themselves as difficult to pass as possible? If they've not strung themselves out in a gapless line then they're two abreast. Along winding rural roads it's virtually impossible to overtake and if they don't leave a gap then impossible to pull in.

Do these men (and it's mostly men) gain some sort of satisfaction from their antics on pushbikes or are they just awkward t!a!s all the time!

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Now there's good and bad in all but what is it about groups, ie 2 or more, of cyclists who seem to think it is some sort of right to make themselves as difficult to pass as possible? If they've not strung themselves out in a gapless line then they're two abreast. Along winding rural roads it's virtually impossible to overtake and if they don't leave a gap then impossible to pull in.

Do these men (and it's mostly men) gain some sort of satisfaction from their antics on pushbikes or are they just awkward t!a!s all the time!

Riding 2 abreast is recommended in the highway code.... Riding in such away and being in a dominant position reduces the chance of twats who think they own the road driving to close, to fast and endangering the cyclist....

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It's a nightmare from either perspective. I used to cycle loads with a club but cycling is a victim of it's own success. The club rides used to 6-8 of us many years ago but went out with them recently and you get 40 riders turning out on a Sunday morning on roads that are busier than ever. Then they end up strung out over half a mile of country lanes and unsurprisingly drivers get stressed not being able to pass. I gave up riding with club for this reason alone. If I go out now it's off road or at quiet times.

There are idiots on bikes and idiots in cars but only one loser if the two colide.

Edited May 11 by Woodworks

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Whilst not apparently in the HWC, it seems that a cyclist is recommended to ride at 0.75m from the kerb and a vehicle passing should allow a further 1.5m clearance to pass a cyclist. But it's difficult to find an authoritative reference. In the case I highlighted earlier, from the horses mouth, the driver is being prosecuted on the basis of not moving fully into the outside / opposing lane in order to pass the cyclist (he only partially straddled the central white line) which has been deemed "careless" and resulted in the prosecution.... But for the grace of God any one of us could have a life changing experience simply driving home from work, not to mention the potential for guilt / remorse for the implications for the cyclist (for those of a more delicate disposition 😇)

I couldn't find the part in the HWC that recommends riding 2-abreastb but there are these:

Cyclists

Rule 66

You should

keep both hands on the handlebars except when signalling or changing gear

keep both feet on the pedals

never ride more than two abreast, and ride in single file on narrow or busy roads and when riding round bends

Rule 68

You MUST NOT

carry a passenger unless your cycle has been built or adapted to carry one

hold onto a moving vehicle or trailer

ride in a dangerous, careless or inconsiderate manner

ride when under the influence of drink or drugs, including medicine.

Drivers

Rule 163

Overtake only when it is safe and legal to do so. You should

not get too close to the vehicle you intend to overtake

use your mirrors, signal when it is safe to do so, take a quick sideways glance if necessary into the blind spot area and then start to move out

not assume that you can simply follow a vehicle ahead which is overtaking; there may only be enough room for one vehicle

move quickly past the vehicle you are overtaking, once you have started to overtake. Allow plenty of room. Move back to the left as soon as you can but do not cut in

take extra care at night and in poor visibility when it is harder to judge speed and distance

give way to oncoming vehicles before passing parked vehicles or other obstructions on your side of the road

only overtake on the left if the vehicle in front is signalling to turn right, and there is room to do so

stay in your lane if traffic is moving slowly in queues. If the queue on your right is moving more slowly than you are, you may pass on the left

give motorcyclists, cyclists and horse riders at least as much room as you would when overtaking a car (see Rules 211 to 215).

Rule 212

When passing motorcyclists and cyclists, give them plenty of room (see Rules 162 to 167). If they look over their shoulder it could mean that they intend to pull out, turn right or change direction. Give them time and space to do so.

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Riding 2 abreast is recommended in the highway code.... Riding in such away and being in a dominant position reduces the chance of twats who think they own the road driving to close, to fast and endangering the cyclist....

New one on me. I always thought the Highway Code advised against that in times past. I think problems occur through frustration on the motorist's part when some cyclists purposely make things as awkward as possible.

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